confused

adjective

con·​fused kən-ˈfyüzd 

1

a

: being perplexed or disconcerted

the confused students

b

: disoriented with regard to one's sense of time, place, or identity

The patient became confused.

2

: indistinguishable

a zigzag, crisscross, confused trail

—Harry Hervey

3

: being disordered or mixed up

a contradictory and often confused story

confusedly

kən-ˈfyü-zəd-lē 

-ˈfyüzd-

adverb

confusedness

kən-ˈfyü-zəd-nəs 

-ˈfyüz(d)-

noun

Synonyms

• chaotic
• cluttered
• disarranged
• disarrayed
• disheveled
• dishevelled
• disordered
• disorderly
• higgledy-piggledy
• hugger-mugger
• jumbled
• littered
• messed
• messy
• muddled
• mussed
• mussy
• pell-mell
• rumpled
• sloppy
• topsy-turvy
• tousled
• tumbled
• unkempt
• untidy
• upside-down

Examples of confused in a Sentence

I've never been so confused.

We're confused about what to do next.

He gave a confused speech denying the accusations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two conditions within this category are atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, which are often confused. —Anisha Shah, Verywell Health, 1 Jan. 2025

Erivo immediately got emotional as the Victorious alum, looking a little bit confused, held her friend’s finger for support. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Dec. 2024

Instead, the Fifth Circuit has created a big mess for literally tens of millions of Americans who are confused about these on again, off again antics. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

Still confused about what some of them meant in the first place? —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English — more at confuse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

confused

adjective

con·​fused kən-ˈfyüzd 

: affected with mental confusion